CastExpo and the Metalcasting Congress

Save the Date for the largest North American metalcasting exhibition, coming April 16-19, 2016, to Minneapolis. 

Do you have a plan for the next hurdle? Are you prepared to make the most out of your next opportunity? CastExpo and the Metalcasting Congress is THE event to help you make plans for your Next Big Thing.

We’re shaking things up this year, bringing you the events and exhibit floor you love along with enhanced education and additional career development opportunities. Don’t miss it!

What’s in Store? 

• 450+ Exhibitors showcasing the latest equipment,  technology and resources. 
• Access to the whole supply chain: suppliers, metalcasters and  casting buyers. 
• 4 days of professional development, for all job responsibilities, from executives to plant floor.
• Keynote speakers.
• Metalcasting classes.
• The latest technical research, practical roundtable discussions, and panels from industry experts.
• Networking activities.
• Real-world solutions to apply back at the job.

Justify Your Attendance

Thank you for your interest in attending CastExpo'16. Sponsored by the American Foundry Society (AFS), CastExpo is the single largest trade show and exposition for metalcasting in the Americas. Held every three years, CastExpo offers metalcasters, suppliers, and casting buyers and designers the opportunity to connect and educate themselves on the latest metalcasting has to offer.

Following is some helpful information to justify your attendance at the show in April. We have also provided a memo template to use when formally requesting to attend. Fill in content in the highlighted portion and use the memo to show the value you will gain in going to CastExpo.

Reasons to Attend

1. Build Knowledge

The Metalcasting Congress technical program and additional workshops cover a wide range of topics. Identify which specific technical presentations and workshops you would attend that is relevant to your company and its immediate and future challenges.

2. Foster Industry Relationships

List special group meetings, luncheons, or banquets you plan on attending. Peer organizations and forums give you the chance to meet and interact with industry professionals and technical experts in similar roles and organizations. Discuss how they are accomplishing certain goals or tackling specific challenges similar to your own.

3. Evaluate Potential Investments First Hand

CastExpo promises to bring together more than 400 exhibiting companies that offer solutions to your company’s challenges and opportunities. This is your opportunity to collect first-hand information and compare competing technologies. Kick the tires of equipment; test drive new technology. 

Tips to Make Your Case

1. Offer to prepare and deliver a short presentation to team members to share what you learned.
2. Full Metalcasting Congress proceedings of each session is included with the full 4-day CastExpo registration.
3. Explain what you plan on learning at the show and how it will benefit your organization and your responsibilities.
4. Be ready with a plan to show how your responsibilities will be covered while you are attending CastExpo.
5. Check your AFS membership status and visit the registration page to see if you qualify for any of the lower rates or discounts.  

Show Information

Location and Dates

Minneapolis Convention Center
Halls B-E
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Saturday, April 169 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, April 179 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday, April 189 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday, April 199 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Exhibitor Installation—Begins Tuesday, April 12. All exhibits must be set up by Friday, April 15

Exhibitor Dismantling—Begins Tuesday, April 19 at 2 p.m. All exhibits must be removed from the convention center by Friday, April 22.

The Big Show’s Host

Minneapolis is about a 2.5 hour flight from most major U.S. cities and within an 8 hour drive of more than 28 million people. The Twin Cities Area anchors the second largest economic center in the Midwest, (behind Chicago), and is sure to draw plenty of manufacturers and metalcasters to CastExpo.

Conveniently located close to freeways and the MSP International Airport (just 20 minutes away), the Minneapolis Convention Center (MCC) is connected by climate-controlled skyways to nearly 5,000 of the 6,000 downtown hotel rooms, along with dining, attractions and parking.

MCC is the largest convention center in the Upper Midwest and features the amenities and services you would expect when attending CastExpo, including a UPS Store on location.

Attendee Information

Sponsored solely by the American Foundry Society (AFS), CastExpo is the single largest trade show and exposition for metalcasting in the Americas. CastExpo offers metalcasters, suppliers, and casting buyers and designers the opportunity to connect and educate themselves on the latest and greatest metalcasting has to offer.

Attendees at CastExpo will experience:

• The technology, the castings, the oohs, the aahhs. The heart and soul of our industry will be on display with more than 400 exhibitors over four days. 
• Thought-provoking sessions on how to improve operations, efficiency and quality. In addition, keynotes from world-renowned experts will be highlighted throughout the four-day event.
• Time for all-important face to face connection with peers, customers, vendors, and industry experts.

List of Exhibitors

Housing Information 

Exhibitor Information

Representatives of the entire metalcasting industry supply chain will be in Minneapolis April 16-19, 2016. And they want to see YOU.

The big show—CastExpo—is around the corner. Your customers have been anticipating it for 3 years—the chance to meet at the largest North American gathering of the metalcasting supply chain. When attendees think of CastExpo, they think of full-scale exhibits, technology demos, packed aisles, new equipment, and a show floor full of energy. They are expecting to see you—and what you can offer them. 

Don't disappoint them.

• Supplier Exhibitor Prospectus (pdf.)
• Cast in North America Exhibitor Prospectus (pdf.)
• Exhibitor Services Kit
• View current floorplan and list of exhibitors
• CastExpo Marketing Opportunities
• CastExpo Logo Download for Exhibitors
• CastExpo Banner for Exhibitors

Exhibit Sales Contact : Kris Drager
Tel: 800-537-4237 ext. 217
E-mail: kdrager@afsinc.org 

Metalcasting Congress Author Information

AFS is now accepting submissions for Metalcasting Congress papers covering all issues relating to metalcasting, diecasting and foundry operations, including new technologies, procedures, equipment, products and other innovations that have contributed to enhanced metalcasting productivity and quality.

For more information, contact AFS Metalcasting Congress coordinator Pam Lassila at 800/537-4237 Ext. 240 or plassila@afsinc.org.

Submission deadlines:

• August 15, 2015 :    Abstracts due
• Sept. 15, 2015 :      Technical papers due
• Oct. 15, 2015 :        Panel presentation forms due

Authors should submit abstracts and papers online through the Author Portal. All papers must be formatted using the authorized AFS technical paper template, in compliance with the AFS author’s guide and commercialism policies. The AFS peer review polices will inform authors about paper evaluation and acceptance criteria and procedures. 

Author Portal

Author Guides, Templates and Deadlines

Peer Review Procedure